Inflatable space filler structure for container

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is an inflatable space filler structure comprising a cushioning member to encircle a shock-brittle object contained in a container for preventing the object from any shock action. The cushioning member comprises: two rectangular pieces of resin film or sheet, which are laid on each other and thermowelded in air-tight condition along their sides and in their confronting major planes in the form of partition lines parallel-arranged, reaching short of the opposite lateral sides of the rectangular pieces of resin film or sheet, thus defining divisional air-tight sections. Also, the cushioning member comprises an air inlet equipped with a check valve for inflating the divisional air-tight sections with air, thereby applying the expanded divisional air-tight sections to the front, rear, upper and lower surfaces of the object.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a space filler structurecomprising a cushioning member to encircle a shock-brittle object suchas a personal computer, an electronics part of complicated shape or aglass article for preventing the object from any shock action when it iscontained in a container.

[0003] 2. Related Arts

[0004] As is well known, space fillers are made of foam polystyrene tofit the shape of goods to be contained in boxes. Specifically when ashock-brittle object is contained in a container, such a foampolystyrene cushion is used to fill the remaining space of the containerin which the shock-brittle object is put. Such space filler is oftenlarger than the object to be protected against a shock.

[0005] Accordingly the container such as a cardboard box is necessitatedto be large enough to contain such a large cushion. Advantageously thefoam polystyrene cushion can restore to its original shape and size eventhough it should be shocked repeatedly, thus enabling the object to bekept in safe condition.

[0006] Although the foam polystyrene cushion is satisfied in protectinga shock-brittle object against a recurrent shock action, it needs to beshaped and sized to fit the object, and the so shaped and sized cushionis apt to become large in volume. Bulky cushions are difficult to bethrown away.

[0007] Recently the disposal of foam polystyrene poses a problem fromthe point of view of the public nuisance. Therefore, there has been anever-increasing demand for shock-absorbing cushions as a substitute forfoam polystyrene cushions.

[0008] In the hope of meeting such demand, there has been proposed aninflatable cushion or a pulp-molding cushion.

[0009] Japan Patents 10-114366(A) and 2001-199476(A) show inflatablecushions. Specifically Japan Patent 10-114366(A) shows a “containerequipped with inflatable cushion”, which container is equipped with aninflatable cushion with an air-valve. The inflatable cushion is fastenedto the inside of the container, and the inflatable cushion can hold anobject firmly. The object is so firmly held by the cushion when inflatedwith air that the object cannot be taken out of the container withoutdifficulty. Also, disadvantageously the inflatable cushion cannot beseparated from the container without difficulty when the cushion isremoved and thrown away.

[0010] Japan Patent 2001-199476(A) shows a “packing member and method ofusing the same”. The packing member comprises a tube-like bag, which canbe used repeatedly. It can contain a small-sized cylindrical articlesuch as a toner cartridge for a printer. When the tube-like bag isinflated with air for expansion, it cannot be yieldingly bent to be putin a square box. Another tube-like packing member comprises a laminationof inflatable tube-like sections each equipped with an air inlet forinflation. In use, the inflatable tube-like sections need to be inflatedone by one. The tube-like bag has a lid to cover its opening when atoner cartridge is contained.

[0011] Different from a foam polystyrene cushion, a pulp-molding cushioncannot restore to its original shape when it is shocked, so that it maybe partly deformed. Therefore, it cannot be used repeatedly. Also,disadvantageously the pulp-molding cushion needs to be shaped inconformity with an object to which the pulp-molding cushion is to beapplied.

[0012] When an inflatable cushion is used, it is put at the center of acontainer to be inflated with air. The inflated cushion is sensitive tothe surrounding temperature. Specifically its volume is liable to changewith the surrounding temperature, increasing with the rise of thesurrounding temperature, and decreasing with the descent of thesurrounding temperature. The inflatable cushion, therefore, needs to beinflated with a controlled amount of air in consideration of thepresumable change of the surrounding temperature.

[0013] Assuming that the package is being transported in tropical zones,the inflatable cushion is apt to be expanded, and the so expandedcushion when shocked, can be easily broken to be collapsed, losing itsshock-absorbing capability.

[0014] One object of the present invention is to provide an inflatablespace filler structure which permits an object to be taken out of thecontainer with ease; permits the object to be wrapped no matter whatsize and shape the object may have; and prevents the breaking andcollapsing of the expanded bag when being handled roughly even in thestate of being in excessive inflation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0015] To attain this object an inflatable space filler structurecomprising a cushioning member to encircle a shock-brittle objectcontained in a container for preventing the object from any shockaction, is improved according to the present invention in that thecushioning member comprises: two rectangular pieces of resin film orsheet, which are laid on each other and thermowelded in air-tightcondition along their sides and in their confronting major planes in theform of partition lines parallel-arranged, reaching short of theopposite lateral sides of the rectangular pieces of resin film or sheet,thus defining divisional air-tight sections; and an air inlet equippedwith a check valve for inflating the divisional air-tight sections withair, thereby applying the expanded divisional air-tight sections to thefront, rear, upper and lower surfaces of the object. The word, “film” isused in describing a relatively thin sheet of resin material whereas theword, “sheet” is used in describing a relatively thick sheet of resinmaterial.

[0016] With this arrangement the cushioning member need not be shaped tofit the object, assuring that a shock-absorbing effect be caused nomatter what size and shape the object may have. The inflatable spacefiller can be put in condition for use simply by blowing air from thesingle air inlet into the cushioning member. The cushioning member thusinflated with air is adequate to prevent the whole of the object againsta shock action.

[0017] Preferably extra buffers may be integrally connected to theopposite lateral edges of the rectangular pieces of resin film or sheetto protect the corresponding opposite sides of the object from any shockaction.

[0018] The rectangular pieces of resin film or sheet may have stripesformed alternate with the partition lines on their major planes, whichalternate stripes are formed by weakly thermowelding selected stripes inair-tight condition in the confronting major planes, so that suchstripes may be broken prior to any of the partition lines in response toincidental application of excessive pressure to the inflatable spacefiller.

[0019] An inflatable space filler structure comprising a cushioningmember to encircle a shock-brittle object contained in a container forpreventing the object from any shock action, is improved according tothe present invention in that the cushioning member comprises: outsideand inside closed bags of resin film or sheet of different depths, theinside bag being fitted in the outside bag, their bottoms and oppositelateral and longitudinal sides being thermowelded and connected togetherto stagger their upper closed edges while the outside and inside bagscommunicate at their bottoms, making the inside bag form a pocketfastened onto the outside bag, the confronting planes of the outside andinside bags being thermowelded in the form of partition lines, which arepredetermined distances apart from the longitudinal opposite sides ofthe outside-and-inside bag combination, and an air inlet equipped with acheck valve for inflating the outside and inside bags, thereby applyingthe expanded outside and inside bags to the shock-brittle object in thepocket.

[0020] With this arrangement, a small-sized cylindrical object such as afragile glass article can be enclosed easily by the cushioning member tobe protected against any shock action in the container.

[0021] The outside-and-inside bag combination has sacrificial sealsformed between each partition line and one or the other longitudinalside of the outside-and-inside bag combination.

[0022] An inflatable space filler structure as described above mayfurther comprises an air-hole made for uncorking, the air-hole has aseal piece to cover the air-hole in air-tight fashion, the seal piecebeing capable of being peeled off and attached repeatedly for use.

[0023] The container may be a cardboard box with a packing assistant,which facilitates the configuring and fitting of the cushion to theobject when put in the container.

[0024] The inflatable space filler structure as described above providesthe advantages of:

[0025] facilitating the taking-out of an object from the container;

[0026] facilitating removal of the cushion from the container fordisposal because the cushion is not fixed to the container;

[0027] permitting the wrapping of any object no matter what size andshape it may have;

[0028] permitting the cushion to be put in condition for use simply byblowing air into the bag-like cushion from the single air inlet;

[0029] facilitating transportation or storage of cushions by removingair to collapse; and

[0030] permitting reuse of the cushion.

[0031] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will beunderstood from the following description of preferred embodiments ofthe present invention, which are shown in accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0032]FIG. 1 is a plane view of space filler according to a firstembodiment of the present invention;

[0033]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an uncorking seal member appliedto the cushioning member of the space filler of FIG. 1;

[0034]FIG. 3 is a similar perspective view, but showing the uncorkingseal member peeled off halfway towards complete removal;

[0035]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an inverted “V”-shaped extrabuffer integrally connected to either lateral edge of the space fillerof FIG. 1;

[0036]FIG. 5 illustrates the space filler of FIG. 1 with an object puton its center;

[0037]FIG. 6 illustrates how the object is put in a container along withthe space filler of FIG. 1;

[0038]FIG. 7 is a cross section showing that the object is put in thecontainer with the space filler of FIG. 1 occupying the remaining spacein the container;

[0039]FIG. 8 is a similar cross section, but showing that the object iscompletely enclosed with the space filler of FIG. 1, and is contained inthe container;

[0040]FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross section of the object-and-containertaken along the line 9-9 in FIG. 8;

[0041]FIG. 10 is a plane view of a modification of the space filler ofFIG. 1 having sacrificial lines alternating with the partition lines;

[0042]FIG. 11 illustrates, in cross section, the space filler of FIG. 10inflated with air, one sacrificial line being broken, making twoadjacent sections communicate with each other;

[0043]FIG. 12 is a plane view of a space filler according to a secondembodiment of the present invention;

[0044]FIG. 13 is an enlarged sectional view of the space filler of FIG.12 taken along the line 13-13 in FIG. 12;

[0045]FIG. 14 is a cross section of the space filler of FIG. 12 inflatedwith air, enwrapping a cylindrical object;

[0046]FIG. 15 is a plane view of space filler according to a thirdembodiment of the present invention;

[0047]FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the space filler of FIG. 15inflated with air;

[0048]FIG. 17 is a plane view of space filler according to a fourthembodiment of the present invention;

[0049]FIG. 18 is an enlarged cross section of the space filler of FIG.17 taken along the line 18-18; and

[0050]FIG. 19 is an enlarged cross section of the space filler of FIG.17 inflated with air, enwrapping a cylindrical object, taken along theline 19-19 in FIG. 17.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0051] FIGS. 1 to 9 show a space filler according to a first embodimentof the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, the space fillercomprises a cushioning member 1 to encircle a shock-brittle objectcontained in a container for preventing the object from any shockaction. The cushioning member 1 is like an air bag, comprising tworectangular pieces of resin film or sheet, which are laid on each otherand thermo welded on their four sides 2 in airtight condition.

[0052] For the purpose of facilitating the thermowelding of theconfronting two rectangular pieces of resin film or sheet, one extrapiece of “thermowelding easy” resin film or sheet (such as polyethylene)of same size and shape as the confronting pieces of resin film or sheetmay be sandwiched therebetween, and then, the composite lamination ofresin film or sheet is heated along its four sides and at selected areasto be sealed together. Otherwise, extra pieces of “thermowelding easy”resin film or sheet may be arranged at the four sides and some selectedareas to be thermo welded when the composite lamination of resin film orsheet is heated.

[0053] The major planes of the confronting resin film or sheet arethermo welded in the form of partition lines 3, which areparallel-arranged to reach short of the opposite lateral edges of therectangular shape, thus defining divisional air-tight sections 4 betweenadjacent partition lines 3. These divisional air-tight sections 4communicate with each other by the opposite lateral margins, and arenamed upper, front, rear and lower pneumatic cells 4 a, 4 e, 4 b, 4 dand 4 c for which part of an object the divisional air-tight sections 4are applied to.

[0054] Extra buffers 6 are formed along the opposite lateral edges ofthe rectangular pieces of resin film or sheet to protect thecorresponding opposite sides of the object from any shock action. Eachextra buffer 6 is composed of two semi-buffers 6 a and 6 b connected inthe form of inverted “V”-shape, communicating with the divisionalairtight sections 4 via marginal channels 5 a and 5 b (see FIG. 4).

[0055] An air inlet 7 is provided at one sealed side 2 of the cushioningmember 1, which is communicated with the marginal channels 5 a and 5 b.The air inlet 7 is equipped with a check valve 8. The divisionalair-tight sections 4 and the extra buffers 6 can be inflated with air byblowing air from the air inlet 7 into the air bag 1, preventing the airfrom leaking to the surrounding atmosphere by the check valve 8.

[0056] When the air bag is inflated with air to enwrap an object, theexpanded divisional air-tight sections 4 and the extra buffers 6 areapplied to the front, rear, upper, lower sides and the opposite sides ofthe object to prevent the object against any shock action in alldirections.

[0057] The cushioning member 1 has a semicircular uncorking hole 10 madetherein, and a sticky seal 9 closes the uncorking hole 10 in air-tightfashion, as seen from FIG. 2. The sticky seal 9 can be removed partly toallow the air to flow out from the air bag 1, as seen from FIG. 3. Thesticky seal 9 may have non-sticky margin 9 a to facilitate thepeeling-off of the sticky seal 9.

[0058] When removing the air from the air bag 1, it is collapsed to beflat, and then, it can be folded to reduce its size for the sake ofconvenience of transportation and storage.

[0059] As the sticky seal 9 is made with a seal member which has abilityof peeling off and re-sticking, the air bag 1 can be used repeatedly by:inflating the air bag 1 with air; closing the uncorking hole 10 with thesticky seal 9; peeling the sticky seal 9 partly off to remove the airfrom the air bag 1; and repeating the sequence as many times asrequired.

[0060] Preferably the lower portion of the sticky seal 9 is fastenedfirmly to the air bag 1 to allow the upper part of the sticky seal 9 tobe removably attached to the air bag 1, thereby permitting the upperpart to close the semicircular uncorking hole 10. This assures that thesticky seal 9 is not lost when it is peeled off for uncorking;otherwise, if the sticky seal 9 were peeled off completely, there wouldbe a fear of losing the same.

[0061] The semicircular shape of the uncorking hole 10 is convenient tothe peeling-off of the sticky seal 9 on the half-way to the completeremoval. The uncorking hole should not be understood to be limitative tothe semicircular shape, but it may be circular, elliptic or polygonal inshape.

[0062] Referring to FIG. 4, the rectangular pieces of resin film orsheet have extra buffers 6 formed along their opposite lateral edges toprotect the corresponding opposite sides of the object from any shockaction. Each buffer section 6 can be formed by: making the partitionlines 3 reach short of the opposite lateral edges of rectangular piecesof resin film or sheet; folding the lateral side inward to form aninverted “V”-shaped lateral edge; and applying heat all sides of thelaminated resin films or sheets, that is, the front film or sheet 11 bof relatively strong resin material such as vinyl film, the intermediatefilm or sheet 11 a of “thermowelding easy” resin material such aspolyethylene and the rear film or sheet 11 b of relatively strong resinmaterial. Simultaneously the partition lines 3 can be formed bythermowelding the major planes of the confronting resin film or sheetsat selected areas.

[0063] Simultaneous thermowelding of the composite resin lamination maybe followed by cutting rectangular for making space fillers. The processof making space fillers is advantageous to improvement of themanufacturing efficiency.

[0064] Referring to FIG. 5, the inflatable space filler 1 is laid flaton the floor without being inflated with air, and an object 12 is put onthe bottom section 4 c. The partition lines 3 are so formed that theymay define divisional sections, which will become the pneumatic cells tofit all sides of the object 12 when the space filler 1 is inflated withair.

[0065] Specifically when the space filler 1 is inflated with air, thebottom, front, rear and upper divisional sections 4 c, 4 b, 4 d and 4 a,4 e of the space filler 1 are changed to the bottom, front, rear andupper pneumatic cells to be applied to the bottom, front, rear and uppersides of the object 12. If the space filler 1 had no partition linesformed in its major plane, it could not bend accurately to fit theobject 12.

[0066] Referring to FIG. 6, after the space filler 1 is laid flat on thefloor with the object 12 put on the bottom section 4 c, thefront-and-upper semi-section and the rear-and-upper semi-section areraised to sandwich the object 12. As seen from the drawing, a packagingassistant 13 b is used in putting in a container 13 a the object 12,which is enwrapped with the space filler 1. The packaging assistant 13 bis composed of bottom, front and rear sections and upper semi-sectionscorresponding to those of the space filler 1 respectively, and theopposite upper semi-sections have elongated holes 14 made therein forinserting the four fingers of both hands to grip the upper semi-sectionsby using the thumbs of both hands, thereby facilitating the lifting andinserting (or taking-out) of the object-and-space filler in (or from)the container 13 a.

[0067] Referring to FIG. 7, after the object-and-space filler is put inthe container 13 a, the space filler 1 is inflated with air. Thepost-inflation of the space filler facilitates the putting-in of theobject-and-space filler.

[0068] The bottom pneumatic cell 4 c is collapsed, bearing the weight ofthe object 12 d, as shown in FIG. 7 (solid lines). When the oppositeupper semi-sections of the packaging assistant 13 b are folded towardthe top 12 a of the object 12, the opposite upper semi-pneumatic cells 4a and 4 e are folded to the top 12 a of the object 12 so that air may bedriven forcedly into the bottom pneumatic cell 4 c, thereby expandingthe bottom pneumatic cell 4 c. Thus, the object is completely enclosedwith the inflated air bag, as seen from FIG. 8. FIG. 9 shows how the airbag enwraps the object 12 as viewed from the arrows on the line 9-9 inFIG. 8. Thus, the object 12 can be completely protected from any shockaction. Specifically the bottom, front, rear and upper pneumatic cells 4c, 4 b, 4 d and 4 a,e and the opposite extra buffers 6 a and 6 b of theinflated space filler 1 will protect the bottom, front, rear and uppersides, and opposite sides 12 a and 12 b of the object 12.

[0069] The extra buffer 6 may have any shape other than the inverted“V”-shape (FIG. 4). Extra buffers may be provided simply by making thepartition lines 3 reach short of the opposite lateral edges of therectangular resin films or sheets, leaving marginal channels 5 a, 5 b onthe opposite lateral edges.

[0070] When taking out the object 12 from the container 13 a, thepackaging assistant 13 b is caught by the elongated holes 14 to pull upthe packaging assistant-and-object from the container 13 a. Removal ofthe packaging assistant 13 b from the container 13 a is easy because thepackaging assistant 13 b is not fixed to the container 13 a.

[0071] As may be understood from the above, a single shock absorbingspace filler 1 can be used to enwrap an object 12 completely byinflating the space filler with air. The space filler can be inflatedsimply by blowing air from the single air inlet 7 into the space filler.Use of the packaging assistant 13 b facilitates the inputting of theobject into the container 13 a. The space filler 1 can be usedrepeatedly.

[0072] Referring to FIG. 10, a space filler has four partition lines 3and three sacrificial lines 3 a alternating with the partition lines 3.Such sacrificial lines 3 a can be formed by weakly thermoweldingselected lines 3 a between adjacent partition lines 3, thus dividingeach of the front, bottom and rear sections 4 b, 4 c and 4 d intosemi-divisional sections.

[0073] The strength of each weak thermowelded lines 3 a is fifty tosixty percent of the strength of the partition line, and accordinglyeach sacrificial line 3 a allows the lying resin films or sheets toseparate easily therealong compared with the partition line 3.

[0074] Assuming that a container falls inadvertently on the floor, astrong pressure is applied to the space filler instantly so that one ormore selected sacrificial lines 3 a may be broken, thereby making thevolume of the bottom pneumatic cell 4 c expand accordingly and absorbthe pressure applied to the bottom pneumatic cell (see FIG. 11). Thus,the space filler can be self-protected against rupture, keeping thearticle in safe condition.

[0075] Even if all sacrificial lines 3 a of the inflated cushion 1 arebroken, all of the front, bottom and rear pneumatic cells 4 b, 4 c and 4d are allowed to expand without being ruptured, and therefore, theobject remains enwrapped by the space filler as it was.

[0076] Referring to FIGS. 12 to 14, a tubular space filler 21 accordingto the second embodiment is descried below. The space filler 21 iscomposed of two rectangular pieces of resin film or sheet and a piece of“thermowelding easy” resin film or sheet sandwiched therebetween as isthe case with the space filer according to the first embodiment.

[0077] The rectangular lamination is thermowelded along its four sides22 as seen from the side and sectional views (FIGS. 12 and 13), andpartition lines 23 are formed by thermowelding its major plane inparallel-stripe pattern, reaching short of the opposite lateral sides toleave lateral, marginal channels 25 a and 25 b, which communicate withthe divisional sections defined between adjacent partition lines 23.

[0078] The space filler 21 has an air inlet 27 to open and communicatewith the lateral, marginal channels 25 a and 25 b. The air inlet 27 isequipped with a check valve 28. In use the space filler 21 can beinflated like a balloon by blowing air from the air inlet 27 with anuncorking hole 29 closed with an associated sticky seal 29. When it iscarried or stored, it can be flattened by unsealing the corking hole 30and removing the air from the uncorking inlet 30. Thus, the space filler21 can be used repeatedly.

[0079] Referring to FIG. 14, the space filler 21 is inflated with air toenwrap a cylindrical article 32, protecting the outer surface of thecylindrical article 32 by the absorbing pneumatic cell 24, and theopposite ends of the cylindrical article 32 by the pneumatic cellsprovided by the opposite marginal channels 25 a and 25 b, which functionin the same way as extra buffers 6 in the space filler according to thefirst embodiment.

[0080] An elongated object 32 other than the cylindrical one can beenwrapped, provided that the partition lines 23 are as long as theelongated object 32.

[0081] The space filler according to the second embodiment can havesacrificial lines alternating with the partition lines 23, therebypreventing rupture of the air bag 21 when an increased pressure isapplied thereto, assuring that the article is kept in safe condition.

[0082] Referring to FIGS. 15 and 16, a space filler 41 according to thethird embodiment of the present invention is similar basically to thesecond embodiment. The number and arrangement of partition lines are sodetermined that the space filler when inflated with air may fit anarticle to be enwrapped.

[0083] As seen from the drawings, the space filler 41 is rectangular inshape, the four sides of which rectangular shape are thermowelded. Fourpartition lines 43 are formed by thermowelding the major plane inparallel-strip pattern, thus defining five adjacent divisional sections44 and opposite lateral, marginal channels 45 a and 45 b, whichcommunicate with the divisional sections 44.

[0084] An air inlet 47 is formed to open and communicate with thelateral, marginal channels 45 a and 45 b. The air inlet 47 is equippedwith a check valve 48. An uncorking hole 50 is made, and an associatedsticky seal 49 is applied to close the uncorking hole 50. With thisarrangement, the space filler 41 can be inflated to enwrap an article,thus protecting the article against any shock action. When the air isremoved by peeling off the sticky seal 49 from the uncorking hole 50,the space filler 47 is flattened to facilitate its transportation orstorage. The space filler 41 can be used repeatedly by inflating anduncorking the air bag.

[0085] The pneumatic cells 44 and 45 a and 45 b are applied closely toall sides of the article for protection. The partition lines 43 are aslong as the length of the article to be enwrapped. The square rod-likeair bag can be snugly put in a similar rectangular cardboard box.

[0086] The air inlet 47 can appear on the top side of the air bag 41when put in the cardboard box, provided that the four partition lines 43and the thermowelded margins 42 are formed as seen from FIG. 16, thusfacilitating that the space filler 41 is inflated after it is put in thecardboard box.

[0087] The air bag 41 may have sacrificial lines alternating with thepartition lines as is the case with the first embodiment.

[0088] Referring to FIGS. 17 to 19, a space filler 51 according to thefourth embodiment of the present invention comprises a cushioning memberin the form of dual air bag. Specifically the cushioning membercomprises outside and inside closed bags 52 and 53 of resin film orsheet of different depths. The inside bag 53 is inserted in the outsidebag 52, and their bottoms and opposite lateral and longitudinal sides56, 57 and 58 are thermowelded and connected together to stagger theirupper closed edges while the outside and inside bags 52 and 53communicate at their bottoms, as best seen from FIG. 18. A lateral space52 a is left between the bottom of the inside bag 53 and that of theoutside bag 52. Thus, the inside bag 53 forms a pocket fastened onto theoutside bag 52 for containing an object.

[0089] The confronting planes of the outside and inside bags 52 and 53are thermowelded so as to provide partition lines 59 and 60, which arepredetermined distances apart from the longitudinal opposite sides ofthe outside-and-inside bag combination. Sacrificial lines 61 and 62 areformed so as to extend from the lower ends of the partition lines 59 and60 to the opposite thermowelded longitudinal sides 56 and 57. It shouldbe noted that the sacrificial lines 61 and 62 run parallel to thethemowelded bottom 58, a short distance apart therefrom, and that thelongitudinal partition lines 59 and 60 extend from the lateralsacrificial lines 61 and 62 toward the open side of the dual bagsomewhat beyond the intermediate or center line of the dual bag. Ashock-brittle object can be contained in the space defined by thelongitudinal partition lines 59 and 60 and the imaginary line extendingone to the other sacrificial line, thus holding the object in the lowerhalf part of the dual bag.

[0090] The dual bag is provided with an air inlet 63 with a check valve,which are attached at the time of thermowelding the upper edge 54 of thedual bag. The outside and inside bags can be inflated with air byblowing air from the air inlet, so that the expanded outside and insidebags may be applied to the shock-brittle object in the pocket. Anuncorking hole 10 has an associated sticky seal 9. The sticky seal 9 canbe peeled off and applied to the corking hole 10 repeatedly.

[0091] Referring to FIG. 19, a shock-brittle object such as a glassarticle 64 is put in the inside bag 53, and then the dual bag 51 is putin a cardboard box 65. The dual bag 51 is inflated with air by blowingair from the air inlet, thereby making the outside and inside bags 52and 53 fill with air until the partition line-free part of the outsidebag 52 has occupied the whole space of the cardboard box 65 as shown insupposing lines. The object 64 is enwrapped with the “inter-partitionline” part of the inside bag 53 to be supported and suspended by thepartition line-free part of the outside bag 52, which is fully expandedin the cardboard box.

[0092] When the cardboard box falls on the floor inadvertently, thesacrificial lines 61, 62 are broken to prevent the rupture of the airbag, thereby assuring that the object be protected against any shockaction.

What is claimed is:
 1. An inflatable space filler structure comprising acushioning member to encircle a shock-brittle object contained in acontainer for preventing the object from any shock action, characterizedin that the cushioning member comprises: two rectangular pieces of resinfilm or sheet, which are laid on each other and thermowelded inair-tight condition along their sides and in their confronting majorplanes in the form of partition lines parallel-arranged, reaching shortof the opposite lateral sides of the rectangular pieces of resin film orsheet, thus defining divisional air-tight sections; and an air inletequipped with a check valve for inflating the divisional air-tightsections with air, thereby applying the expanded divisional air-tightsections to the front, rear, upper and lower surfaces of the object. 2.An inflatable space filler structure according to claim 1, wherein extrabuffers are integrally connected to the opposite lateral edges of therectangular pieces of resin film or sheet to protect the correspondingopposite sides of the object from any shock action.
 3. An inflatablespace filler structure according to claim 1, wherein the rectangularpieces of resin film or sheet have stripes formed alternate with thepartition lines on their major planes, which alternate stripes areformed by weakly thermowelding selected stripes in air-tight conditionin the confronting major planes, so that such stripes may be brokenprior to any of the partition lines in response to incidentalapplication of excessive pressure to the inflatable space filler.
 4. Aninflatable space filler structure according to claim 1, wherein itfurther comprises an air-hole made for uncorking, the air-hole has aseal piece to cover the air-hole in air-tight fashion, the seal piecebeing capable of-being peeled off and attached repeatedly for use.
 5. Aninflatable space filler structure according to claim 1, wherein thecontainer is a cardboard box with a packing assistant.
 6. An inflatablespace filler structure comprising a cushioning member to encircle ashock-brittle object contained in a container for preventing the objectfrom any shock action, characterized in that the cushioning membercomprises: outside and inside closed bags of resin film or sheet ofdifferent depths, the inside bag being fitted in the outside bag, theirbottoms and opposite lateral and longitudinal sides being thermoweldedand connected together to stagger their upper closed edges while theoutside and inside bags communicate at their bottoms, making the insidebag form a pocket fastened onto the outside bag, the confronting planesof the outside and inside bags being thermowelded in the form ofpartition lines, which are predetermined distances apart from thelongitudinal opposite sides of the outside-and-inside bag combination,and an air inlet equipped with a check valve for inflating the outsideand inside bags, thereby applying the expanded outside and inside bagsto the shock-brittle object in the pocket.
 7. An inflatable space fillerstructure according to claim 6, wherein the outside-and-inside bagcombination has sacrificial seals formed between each partition line andone or the other longitudinal side of the outside-and-inside bagcombination.
 8. An inflatable space filler structure according to claim6, wherein it further comprises an air-hole made for uncorking, theair-hole has a seal piece to cover the air-hole in air-tight fashion,the seal piece being capable of being peeled off and attached repeatedlyfor use.
 9. An inflatable space filler structure according to claim 6,wherein the container is a cardboard box with a packing assistant.